SHUBENACADIE, N.S. — With two rounds remaining in the Atlantic Superbike Championships, Dan Rudolf of Lunenburg N.S. is leading both the Amateur Superbike and Sportbike classes, and he isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
After three rounds of regional racing Rudolf has managed to win four out of six races. On top of excelling in the Atlantic Roadracing League (ARL) Amateur classes, Rudolf competed in round three of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship (CSBK), where he won his debut national, the Inside Motorcycles-sponsored Amateur Sport Bike race.
Two other regional racers, Crowdis Roberts of Baddeck, N.S. and Nicolas Hurley of Marystown, Nfld., finished second and third in the national event, respectively.
“Not in recent history have all three steps of the podium been secured by all local riders,” said Andrew Murray of ARL. “Round three of CSBK really allowed the local ARL (riders) to shine.”
For Rudolf, this was his first national racing event while Roberts and Hurley competed the previous year.
Rob Forsyth of Dartmouth, N.S. also had an outstanding weekend after he qualified first for both the Amateur Sport Bike and Superbike races before crashing out of first place during both events.
“Rob has proven to be quite fast but just needs to work a bit more on his racecraft and consistency to remain at the level he reached at the CSBK round,” said Murray. “Dan has worked very hard and has been consistent in his approach to getting faster. Now is his time to focus on that consistency and see where he ends up at the end of the season.
“Jarrod (d’Entremeont) and Crowdis continue to battle it out this season and it was great to see the riders continue to progress at the CSBK round. Both these riders should be able to compete for the podium every round with more seat time and experience.”
“I think Crowdis is (my biggest competition) because he goes to each round,” explained Rudolf. “I feel like I need to beat Rob at regionals; I passed him before he crashed out in Sport Bike nationals but I want to beat him at round four. It’s a mental thing, my goals for this year was to earn a Pro place and fight for a championship. I want to win (both championships), but I want to earn them, not because a fast guy wasn’t there. When I race I’m always racing myself more than others, if I’ve done my best then I am happy no matter where I finish.”
To Rudolf, safety is more important than where he finishes on the track. He can be seen wearing a Leatt neck brace, which is popular within the ARL paddock.
“I wanted to be safe at the track, so my goal has always been to improve just a little over the previous round,” the Honda rider adds.
The competitor who comes out of the season on top in the ARL Amateur Sportbike point standing will be awarded with one participant entry to the Penguin Roadracing School and $500 in cash for travel expenses courtesy of Inside Motorcycles. Currently, Rudolf leads the championship on his Bridgewater Honda CBR600RR by 28 points and the Superbike championship by 23 points.
Round four of the Atlantic Superbike Championship is set to take place at Atlantic Motorsport Park August 31–September 1.
–By Danielle Nickerson
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